While I personally favor gameplay substance over style, I am well aware of the impact the presentation of a game can have on its reception by the media and potential players.

Many times before, I've come across peolpe complaining that the universe of Endless Space was "lifeless" or "bland," that the presentation was try, and that the game lacked lore to draw the player in and immerse them. Now, I think many of those people may simply never have bothered to read the descriptions of the factions, heroes, technologies, and improvements, completely missing the actually quite large amount of lore spread throughout the game as well as its peculiar sense of humor, but I'm worried that Endless Legend may receive the same reaction. While the map already feels far more alive than the map of Endless Space ever did, thanks to the aesthetics of the anomalies and ruins both on the map and in the artwork, some players (and more importantly, reviewers) might not feel that is enough and end up calling the game "clinical" again.



For that reason, I would like to suggest adding leader quotes to all technologies, similar to the quotes used in the Civilization series and in Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. As a matter of fact, I think one of the reasons Alpha Centauri was so successful was its excellent world-building through such quotes and the intermissions.

I'm sure that anybody who played Alpha Centauri will remember Chairman Yang's calm explanation that "It is every citizen's final duty to go into the tanks" or Morgan's argument that "resources exist to be consumed, and consumed they will be." And I'm confident that most players who remember that will agree with me that it would be a great addition to the game that really sells the lore to new players.



As a matter of fact, here are some examples:











As much as I like the art displayed when a research is finished, I think üutting the artwork of the technology tht has just been finished there, with a short "leader quote" next to it (and ideally also being read out by the VAs of the faction introduction videos) would convince any player of the amount of work Amplitude has put into building their universe and its lore.



I'm sure the community would be willing to help here, too. Writing quotes for the devs to pick, perhaps donating so the VAs can be paid, or recording a few lines themselves. Even if audio won't be viable for release, I believe just adding these in-universe views will add a lot to player immersion by developing the identities of the factions even further.

Excellent suggestion, I was thinking exactly the same, remembering the old days with Alpha Centauri. A nice little quote with each tech.. It would do very well with the overall atmosphere of Auriga for sure.

Yea great idea !



+1

Agreed, absolutely agreed.



Got any suggestions for quotes?



I got one for the Sewer System City Improvement: "Yes, they're a hassle to build, but at least the city streets no longer smell like... well, you know." - Tlalo Moshi Pakwa, Wild Walker Governor.

Buzzkillington1990 wrote:
Agreed, absolutely agreed.



Got any suggestions for quotes?



I got one for the Sewer System City Improvement: "Yes, they're a hassle to build, but at least the city streets no longer smell like... well, you know." - Tlalo Moshi Pakwa, Wild Walker Governor.

Ahaha, if they do add in leader/tech unlock quotes, I really hope they use this ;D !

I love this idea.



I can just imagine the Necrophage Demanding Gods qoute as being along the lines of "One of the many goals of the Lesser beings is to please the Gods, what better way than to give themselves to the Gods."

lukemacu wrote:
I love this idea.



I can just imagine the Necrophage Demanding Gods qoute as being along the lines of "One of the many goals of the Lesser beings is to please the Gods, what better way than to give themselves to the Gods."

I've got two different suggestions for that one, actually.



1. "All power demands sacrifice. My power demands your sacrifice."



2. "The gods are displeased! Bring them another sacrifice! And not an ugly one this time!"



And for the Cannon Fodder Tech: "Have the Vaulters run out of Arrows yet? No? Alright, send in the next wave."

I don't know why, but that suggestion made me think "Arrows to the right of them, arrows to the left of them, arrows in front of them [...] and into the mouth of death buzzed the six... thousand."



Also, shouldn't it rather be a tasty one for the Demanding Gods?

"Broken Lords? No, they're way past expiration date."



How about leader quotes on the faction traits as well? Cull the Herd: "It's Urces! Soylent Grey is Urces!"





Well, I think that's quite enough referential humor for one post.

The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales wrote:
I don't know why, but that suggestion made me think "Arrows to the right of them, arrows to the left of them, arrows in front of them [...] and into the mouth of death buzzed the six... thousand."

Their's not to make reply,

Their's not to reason why,

Their's but to do and die;

Into the valley of Death

Buzzed the six thousand.

The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales wrote:
Also, shouldn't it rather be a tasty one for the Demanding Gods?

"Broken Lords? No, they're way past expiration date."

"Can you please get the Gods something that's actually edible this time?! The last sacrifice was just a pile of metal!"

The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales wrote:
How about leader quotes on the faction traits as well? Cull the Herd: "It's Urces! Soylent Grey is Urces!"

I dunno, the point is that these little voice-over snippets play when you research something new, but since the Faction traits are stuff that you start with I'm not sure how you'd get them into the game...

The-Cat-o-Nine-Tales wrote:
Well, I think that's quite enough referential humor for one post.

You can never have enough referential humor!

Buzzkillington1990 wrote:


I dunno, the point is that these little voice-over snippets play when you research something new, but since the Faction traits are stuff that you start with I'm not sure how you'd get them into the game...

A single paragraph preceding or following the description would do. Or it could simply work by slightly re-writing the existing descriptions and appending a by-line to the description. "There is more than one way to pay taxes - Feeds-On-Bones, Necrophage Governor" would be a very minute change, yet it would directly tie that line into the universe and give personality to the Necrophages and that hero.





Also, another idea regarding the peculiar feeding habits of Necrophages: "The seasons have changed our people. So now our people have changed the seasoning."

Very nice suggestion ! This is a fun way to learn more about the factions and the story of the game.

"Did it smell that bad when you ate it!?"



You have discovered the necrophages!

DotBeta wrote:
"Did it smell that bad when you ate it!?"



You have discovered the necrophages!

Hilarious one ^^



I would like to hear the dev about all the suggestions. Not only that one but also about the dozen of awesome and doable suggestion made. I wont have false hope

"Can I interest you in purchasing this ancient piece of Endless technology? I guarantee it is still working*!"



You have encountered the Roving Clans!

*warranty void on purchase





"Hmmm, do you know what would look good on you? Piercings!"



You have encountered the Ardent Mages!





"I never drink... wine!... or at all, really."



You have encountered the Broken Lords!